LAWSON PRODUCTS, INC. (Form: 8-K)  

 


UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

     
Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported):   March 1, 2012

LAWSON PRODUCTS, INC.
__________________________________________
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

     
Delaware 0-10546 36-2229304
_____________________
(State or other jurisdiction
_____________
(Commission
______________
(I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation) File Number) Identification No.)
      
1666 E. Touhy Avenue, Des Plaines, Illinois   60018
_________________________________
(Address of principal executive offices)
  ___________
(Zip Code)
     
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:   (847) 827-9666

Not Applicable
______________________________________________
Former name or former address, if changed since last report

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

[  ]  Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
[  ]  Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
[  ]  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
[  ]  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))


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Item 2.02 Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

On March 1, 2012, Lawson Products, Inc. issued a press release announcing its 2011 fourth quarter and full-year results. A copy of the press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.





Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits

99.1 Press Release issued on March 1, 2012











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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

         
    LAWSON PRODUCTS, INC.
          
March 1, 2012   By:   Ronald J. Knutson
       
        Name: Ronald J. Knutson
        Title: Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer


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Exhibit Index


     
Exhibit No.   Description

 
99.1
  Press Release issued on March 1, 2012
EX-99.1

Lawson Products Reports 2011 Fourth Quarter and Full-Year Results

DES PLAINES, Ill. – (BUSINESS WIRE) March 1, 2012 – Lawson Products, Inc. (NASDAQ:LAWS) (“Lawson” or the “Company”), a distributor of products and services to the MRO marketplace, today announced its 2011 fourth quarter and full-year results.

Thomas Neri, president and chief executive officer commented, “2011 was a transformational year for Lawson as we made substantial progress on the strategic initiatives that are critical to our long-term success. Specifically, we replaced our outdated legacy systems with a state-of-the-art ERP solution and have made progress toward optimizing our distribution network and transforming our organization to allow our customers to conduct business with us through multiple sales channels.”

Mr. Neri added: “Although operational issues related to our August 2011 ERP implementation impacted our financial performance during the second half of 2011, we continue to make progress on resolving many of these issues and improving our service levels. The new ERP system will enhance our ability to respond to our customers’ needs and lead to increased customer satisfaction. The system is critical to provide the platform for our new website, to support the technology requirements of our new distribution center and to enable enhanced sales solutions.”

Fourth Quarter Results

Net sales for the fourth quarter of 2011 were $72.9 million compared to $80.0 million in the prior year quarter, with one less selling day in the 2011 period. The decrease was largely due to challenges the Company encountered following the launch of its ERP system, which caused delays in its supply chain and fulfillment processes, leading to a build-up of backorders and lost sales in the quarter. Average daily sales were $1.214 million in the fourth quarter of 2011, an increase of 3.1% over the third quarter of 2011 and reflect the start of a recovery from the ERP-related issues.

Gross profit was $39.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2011, compared to $49.8 million in the prior year period. As a percent of net sales, gross profit for the fourth quarter of 2011 was 53.5% compared to 56.5% in the third quarter of 2011 and 62.2% in the fourth quarter of 2010. The decline was primarily driven by an increase in outbound freight and labor costs following the ERP conversion as well as the ongoing strategy to pursue larger customers with lower margins.

Total SG&A expenses were down $3.7 million to $44.3 million in the quarter compared to $47.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2010. Selling expenses decreased to $20.2 million in 2011 from $22.7 million in 2010 primarily due to lower net sales. General and administrative expenses decreased by $1.1 million, or 4.5%, primarily due to a $1.2 million decrease in ERP implementation costs and lower incentive compensation costs partially offset by a $1.0 million increase in the Company’s provision for doubtful accounts compared to the prior year quarter.

The Company recorded two non-recurring items in the quarter which negatively impacted results by $2.3 million. Excluding these items, the fourth quarter 2011 operating loss was $5.4 million compared to operating income of $1.2 million in 2010.

Net loss for the fourth quarter of 2011 was $5.5 million, or $0.65 per diluted share, compared to a net loss of $0.5 million, or $0.06 per diluted share, in the prior year.

The Company ended the fourth quarter with no outstanding borrowings.

Full-Year Results

2011 operating income was significantly impacted in the second half of the year by the implementation of the ERP system, which resulted in lower sales and gross margin, and higher operating expenses.

For the year ended December 31, 2011, net sales decreased by 0.6% to $315.0 million compared to $316.8 million in 2010. Gross profit as a percent of sales declined to 57.1% from 61.5% in 2010. This decline was driven by three main factors: (1) increased vendor costs that were not passed along to customers as Lawson held pricing constant to facilitate the ERP conversion; (2) an increase in outbound freight and labor costs following the ERP conversion; and (3) the Company’s ongoing strategy to pursue larger customers with lower margins.

Total SG&A expenses were $181.3 million, or 57.6% of net sales, and $180.0 million or 56.8% of net sales in 2011 and 2010, respectively. Selling expenses decreased to $86.5 million in 2011 from $88.2 million in 2010 and decreased as a percent of sales to 27.5% in 2011 from 27.9%, reflecting lower health insurance costs, a shift in the customer mix to larger strategic accounts which tend to result in lower commissions and improved sales force productivity. General and administrative expenses increased by $3.0 million, or 3.3%, primarily due to a $3.2 million increase in ERP implementation costs compared to 2010.

The Company recorded two non-recurring negative items in 2011 in the amount of $2.3 million. Excluding these items, the 2011 operating loss was $3.1 million. In 2010, the Company reported two non-recurring items which positively impacted results by $5.8 million. Excluding these items, operating income was $11.2 million in 2010.

Net loss for 2011 was $4.6 million, or $0.54 per diluted share, compared to net income of $6.9 million, or $0.81 per diluted share in 2010.

“While our financial performance in the first half of 2012 will continue to be somewhat impacted by the transformational initiatives we have put in place, we have now passed the biggest hurdle. Average daily sales have been steadily increasing following the implementation of our new ERP system. Also, construction has commenced on our new, leased state-of-the-art distribution center in McCook, Illinois, which will consolidate operations of our existing Illinois facilities and provide the platform to enhance our customer service,” concluded Mr. Neri.

Conference Call

Lawson Products, Inc. will conduct a conference call with investors to discuss fourth quarter 2011 results at 9:00 a.m. EST on March 1, 2012. A streaming audio of the call and an archived replay will be available on the Lawson Products investor relations section of Lawson’s website through March 31, 2012. The conference call is also available by direct dial at 877-317-6789 in the U.S. or 412-317-6789 from outside of the U.S. A replay of the conference call will be available approximately one hour after completion of the call through March 16, 2012. Callers can access the replay by dialing 877-344-7529 in the U.S. or 412-317-0088 outside the U.S. The PIN access number for the replay is 10010029#.

About Lawson Products, Inc.
Founded in 1952, Lawson Products, Inc. (NASDAQ: LAWS), is an industrial distributor of more than 300,000 different maintenance and repair supplies. Lawson Products serves its customers through a dedicated team of approximately 950 independent sales representatives and approximately 950 employees. The Company services the industrial, institutional, commercial and government markets in all 50 U.S. states, Canada and Puerto Rico.

This Release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that involve risks and uncertainties. The terms “may,” “should,” “could,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “continues,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “objective,” “plan,” “potential,” “project” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. These statements are based on management’s current expectations, intentions or beliefs and are subject to a number of factors, assumptions and uncertainties that could cause or contribute to such differences or that might otherwise impact the business and include the risk factors set forth in Item 1A of the December 31, 2011 Form 10-K filed on March 1, 2012. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any such factor or to publicly announce the results of any revisions to any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

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 LAWSON PRODUCTS, INC.    
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS    
(Amounts in thousands, except per share data)    
    Three Months Ended   Year Ended
    December 31,   December 31,
    2011   2010   2011   2010
Net sales
  $ 72,860     $ 80,012     $ 314,959     $ 316,780  
Cost of goods sold
    33,867       30,248       135,182       121,954  
 
                               
Gross profit
    38,993       49,764       179,777       194,826  
 
                               
Operating expenses:
                               
Selling, general and administrative expenses
    44,265       47,923       181,291       180,021  
Severance expense
    122       646       1,614       3,629  
Loss (gain) on sale of assets
    22             22       (1,701 )
Other operating expenses (income)
    2,346             2,346       (4,050 )
 
                               
Operating expenses
    46,755       48,569       185,273       177,899  
Operating income (loss)
    (7,762 )     1,195       (5,496 )     16,927  
 
                               
Other (expenses) income, net
    (56 )     130       (580 )     (231 )
 
                               
 
                               
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes
    (7,818 )     1,325       (6,076 )     16,696  
 
                               
Income tax (benefit) expense
    (2,445 )     1,213       (1,687 )     7,106  
 
                               
 
                               
Income (loss) from continuing operations
    (5,373 )     112       (4,389 )     9,590  
 
                               
Discontinued operations, net of income tax
    (174 )     (623 )     (235 )     (2,653 )
 
                               
Net income (loss)
  $ (5,547 )   $ (511 )   $ (4,624 )   $ 6,937  
 
                               
 
                               
Basic income (loss) per share of common stock:
                               
Continuing operations
  $ (0.63 )   $ 0.01     $ (0.51 )   $ 1.13  
Discontinued operations
    (0.02 )     (0.07 )     (0.03 )     (0.32 )
 
                               
 Net income (loss) per share
  $ (0.65 )   $ (0.06 )   $ (0.54 )   $ 0.81  
 
                               
Diluted income (loss) per share of common stock:
                               
Continuing operations
  $ (0.63 )   $ 0.01     $ (0.51 )   $ 1.12  
Discontinued operations
    (0.02 )     (0.07 )     (0.03 )     (0.31 )
 
                               
 Net income (loss) per share
  $ (0.65 )   $ (0.06 )   $ (0.54 )   $ 0.81  
Basic weighted average shares outstanding
    8,566       8,523       8,553       8,522  
Dilutive effect of stock based compensation
          36             15  
 
                               
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding
    8,566       8,559       8,553       8,537  
 
                               
Cash dividends declared per share of common stock
  $ 0.12     $ 0.12     $ 0.48     $ 0.32  
 
                               
 

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LAWSON PRODUCTS, INC.    
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS    
(Amounts in thousands)    
    December 31,   December 31,
    2011   2010
ASSETS
               
Current assets:
               
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 2,116     $ 40,566  
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts
    43,239       33,398  
Inventories
    55,498       47,167  
Miscellaneous receivables and prepaid expenses
    7,064       8,905  
Deferred income taxes
    5,716       4,251  
Discontinued operations
    410       619  
 
               
Total current assets
    114,043       134,906  
 
               
Property, plant and equipment, net
    52,702       44,442  
Cash value of life insurance
    15,490       15,660  
Deferred income taxes
    11,864       11,492  
Goodwill
    28,148       28,307  
Other assets
    501       1,577  
 
               
Total assets
  $ 222,748     $ 236,384  
 
               
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
               
Current liabilities:
               
Accounts payable
  $ 22,967     $ 18,195  
Accrued expenses and other liabilities
    28,231       35,348  
Discontinued operations
    681       2,008  
Total current liabilities
    51,879       55,551  
 
               
Security bonus plans
    23,310       25,602  
Deferred compensation
    9,279       10,792  
Other liabilities
    4,108       1,574  
 
               
 
    36,697       37,968  
 
               
Total Stockholders’ Equity
    134,172       142,865  
 
               
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
  $ 222,748     $ 236,384  
 
               

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  LAWSON PRODUCTS, INC.
REGULATION G GAAP RECONCILIATIONS

The Company reports its financial results in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). However, the Company’s management believes that certain non-GAAP financial measures may provide users of this financial information additional meaningful comparisons between current results and results in prior operating periods. Management believes that these non-GAAP financial measures can provide additional meaningful reflection of underlying trends of the business because they provide a comparison of historical information that excludes certain infrequently occurring or non-operational items that impact the overall comparability. See the table below for supplemental financial data and corresponding reconciliations to GAAP financial measures for the three months and years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010. Non-GAAP financial measures should be viewed in addition to, and not as an alternative for, the Company’s reported results prepared in accordance with GAAP.

                                 
TABLE 1 - RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO ADJUSTED NON-GAAP OPERATING INCOME
(Amounts in thousands)    
    (Unaudited)    
    Three Months Ended   Year Ended
    December 31,   December 31,
    2011   2010   2011   2010
Operating income (loss), as reported per GAAP
  $ (7,762 )   $ 1,195     $ (5,496 )   $ 16,927  
Employment tax matter (1)
    1,200             1,200        
Asset impairment (2)
    1,146             1,146        
Loss (gain) on sale of assets (3)
    22             22       (1,701 )
Legal settlement (4)
                      (4,050 )
 
                               
Adjusted non-GAAP operating income (loss)
  $ (5,394 )   $ 1,195     $ (3,128 )   $ 11,176  
 
                               

(1)   The three months and year ended December 31, 2011 includes a $1.2 million expense for the estimated cost of settling an employment tax matter.

(2)   The three months and year ended December 31, 2011 includes a $1.1 million impairment charge related to certain long-lived assets.

(3)   The year ended December 31, 2010, includes a $1.7 million gain on disposal of assets from the sale of the Dallas, Texas distribution center.

(4)   The year ended December 31, 2010, includes $4.1 million in proceeds received from legal remedies related to a litigation settlement.

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            LAWSON PRODUCTS, INC.                        
            TABLE 2 - QUARTERLY RESULTS                
                    (Dollars in thousands)                
                    Three months ended                
 
  Dec. 31, 2011           Sep. 30, 2011   Jun. 30, 2011   Mar. 31, 2011   Dec. 31, 2010
 
                                               
Average daily net sales
  $ 1,214             $ 1,178     $ 1,315     $ 1,311     $ 1,312  
Sequential quarter increase
    3.1 %             (10.4 )%     0.3 %     (0.1 )%     2.9 %
Net sales
  $ 72,860             $ 75,366     $ 84,154     $ 82,579     $ 80,012  
Gross profit
    38,993               42,546       48,299       49,939       49,764  
Gross profit percentage
    53.5 %             56.5 %     57.4 %     60.5 %     62.2 %
Selling, general and administrative expenses
  $ 44,265             $ 45,335     $ 46,242     $ 45,449     $ 47,923  
SG&A as a percent of sales
    60.8 %             60.2 %     54.9 %     55.0 %     59.9 %
Other operating expenses
                                               
Severance expense
    122               282       465       745       646  
Loss on sale of assets
    22                                  
Employment tax matter (1)
    1,200                                  
Asset impairment (2)
    1,146       ?                          
 
                                               
Total operating expenses
    46,755               45,617       46,707       46,194       48,569  
 
                                               
Operating income (loss)
  $ (7,762 )           $ (3,071 )   $ 1,592     $ 3,745     $ 1,195  
 
                                               

(1)   The three months ended December 31, 2011 includes a $1.2 million expense for the estimated cost of settling an employment tax matter.

(2)   The three months ended December 31, 2011 includes a $1.1 million impairment charge related to certain long-lived assets.

        .

Investor Relations:
Lawson Products, Inc.
Ronald J. Knutson
SVP, Chief Financial Officer
847-827-9666, ext. 2665

Media Contact:
Lawson Products, Inc.
Carolyn Ballard
Director, Corporate Communications
847-827-9666, ext. 2251  

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